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Quantifying the effectiveness of ultraviolet-C light at inactivating airborne Mycobacterium abscessus
T T Nguyen1, C He2, R Carter3
1Faculty of Medicine, School of Public Health, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.
Background:
Mycobacterium abscessus (MABS) group are environmental organisms that can cause infection in people with cystic fibrosis (CF) and other suppurative lung diseases. There is potential for person-to-person airborne transmission of MABS among people with CF attending the same care centre. Ultraviolet light (band C, UV-C) is used for Mycobacterium tuberculosis control indoors; however, no studies have assessed UV-C for airborne MABS.
Aim:
To determine whether a range of UV-C doses increased the inactivation of airborne MABS, compared with no-UVC conditions.
Methods:
MABS was generated by a vibrating mesh nebulizer located within a 400 L rotating drum sampler, and then exposed to an array of 265 nm UV-C light-emitting diodes (LED). A six-stage Andersen Cascade Impactor was used to collect aerosols. Standard microbiological protocols were used for enumerating MABS, and these quantified the effectiveness of UV-C doses (in triplicate). UV-C effectiveness was estimated using the difference between inactivation with and without UV-C.
Findings:
Sixteen tests were performed, with UV-C doses ranging from 276 to 1104 μW s/cm2. Mean (±SD) UV-C effectiveness ranged from 47.1% (±13.4) to 83.6% (±3.3). UV-C led to significantly greater inactivation of MABS (all P-values ≤0.045) than natural decay at all doses assessed. Using an indoor model of the hospital environment, it was estimated that UV-C doses in the range studied here could be safely delivered in clinical settings where patients and staff are present.
Conclusion:
This study provides empirical in-vitro evidence that nebulized MABS are susceptible to UV-C inactivation.
Insights
Ultraviolet C (UV-C) light effectively inactivates airborne Mycobacterium abscessus (MABS), a pathogen causing lung infections in cystic fibrosis patients. This study demonstrates UV-C
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Environmental Health
- Infectious Disease Control
Background:
- Mycobacterium abscessus (MABS) group are environmental organisms implicated in lung infections, particularly in cystic fibrosis (CF) patients.
- Airborne transmission of MABS is a concern in healthcare settings, especially among CF patients.
- While UV-C light is used for Mycobacterium tuberculosis control, its efficacy against airborne MABS remains unstudied.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the effectiveness of various Ultraviolet C (UV-C) light doses in inactivating airborne Mycobacterium abscessus (MABS).
- To compare the inactivation rates of airborne MABS under UV-C exposure versus natural decay.
Main Methods:
- MABS were aerosolized using a vibrating mesh nebulizer within a rotating drum sampler.
- Aerosols were exposed to 265 nm UV-C light-emitting diodes (LEDs).
- A six-stage Andersen Cascade Impactor collected aerosols, and MABS were enumerated using standard microbiological protocols to quantify UV-C effectiveness.
Main Results:
- UV-C doses ranging from 276 to 1104 μW·s/cm² demonstrated significant inactivation of airborne MABS.
- Mean UV-C effectiveness ranged from 47.1% to 83.6%, significantly outperforming natural decay (P ≤ 0.045).
- Indoor modeling suggests safe delivery of these UV-C doses in clinical environments with patient and staff presence.
Conclusions:
- Nebulized Mycobacterium abscessus (MABS) are susceptible to inactivation by UV-C light.
- This study provides in-vitro evidence supporting the potential use of UV-C for controlling airborne MABS in healthcare settings.
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